Manager rules out Sutherland bid

Arbroath boss Dick Campbell has ruled himself out of the race for in-demand Elgin City striker Shane Sutherland after being quoted a transfer fee of more than £40,000.

The former Inverness frontman has been the subject of bids from Peterhead as well as Cove Rangers, with Stirling Albion also understood to have tabled an offer worth £20,000 but that move broke down over personal terms.

Sutherland, who was out for almost a year after suffering a cruciate ligament injury, made his comeback for Elgin towards the end of last season, scoring a superb free-kick against Montrose as the Gable Endies clinched the League 2 title.

The 27-year-old striker also netted 24 times in 33 games during the 2016-17 season, to win the League 2 player of the year award, and Campbell was obviously interested when someone of Sutherland’s calibre became available.

However, that pursuit has ended before it began when a transfer fee in excess of £40,000 was mentioned, with the Gayfield gaffer saying: “Shane is a good player who would fit in with our squad but I am not going to get involved in a bidding war at the levels mentioned.”

Elgin boss Gavin Price expects Sutherland to be in his pre-season plans in spite of the spate of interest from elsewhere.

The 27-year-old still has another year to run on his contract at Borough Briggs, which he signed last year during his long spell out with his cruciate injury.

“It’s got to be right for the club as well as the player,” Price said.

“Shane’s a top player so it doesn’t surprise me other teams are interested in him.”

Peterhead conceded defeat in their bid to bring Sutherland to Balmoor for a second spell last week when a £15,000 offer was turned down.

Striker Shane Sutherland.